Top roller for textile drafting devices

ABSTRACT

A top roller for a textile drafting device, having an interior annular space is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft. The space is in fluid communication with an axial duct in the shaft through which a compressed medium can be passed to inflate the roller. Compressed air supplied to a second axial duct in the shaft blows off dirt that may accumulate on the end of the roller.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,203,073 8/1965 Stein 29/113 3,270,397 9/1966 Ingham, Jr. et al. l5/306.I 3,362,055 l/1968 Bryce 29/113AD Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerLeon G. Machlin Attorney- Sandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde ABSTRACT: A top roller for a textile drafting device, having an interior annular space is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft. The space is in fluid communication with an axial duct in the shaft through which a compressed medium can be passed to inflate the roller. Compressed air supplied to a second axial duct in the shaft blows off dirt that may accumulate on the end 15 2/4 1 6 of the roller' I ll 5 a 6 l7 i0 32 E3 35 2712,; H ll 20 a ////////////%i r .9 it, a. g gmga I8 34 24 i 22 9 l9 '5 L TOP ROLLER FOR TEXTILE DRAFIING DEVICES It is a known fact that fly and dirt floating in the air of spinning mills accumulates on the nonrotating shafts of top rollers in textile drafting devices. This dirt and fly is also sucked in between the bearing surfaces of the top rollers and their shafts, causing fast wear and tear. The top rollers rotating around the shaft cause the fly accumulated on the shaft to wrap around them. I

These are the reasons why the top rollers and their shafts have to be removed and cleaned in certain time intervals, causing looses in the production.

Another kind of loss in production occurs when top rollers provide with an inside air cushion to increase their elasticity, have to be inflated due to some loss of their content or air pressure. In such a case, the rollers have also to be removed from the spinning frame. Thus, the spinning frame has to be put out of service for a certain period.

The present invention has the object to eliminate or substantially reduce each of these disadvantages jointly or individually.

Its nature and how it can be performed will be better understood on hand of the drawing here enclosed and the following specification referring to the drawing, wherein FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section of a top roller and its shaft, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the shaft; and

FIG. 3 shows the inflation of the top roller when removed from the spinning frame.

In FIG. 1, a top roller 1 is free to rotate around a nonrotating shaft 7. Shaft 7 is provided with a threaded hole at its end, into which the threads of a cap 18 fit. Two grooves 9 and 15 extend around the inner circumference of the roller. Ring groove 9 is connected with a hollow space 11 of the roller by means of a boring 6 and a ball valve the position of which is ensured by a cover 17.

Nonrotating shaft 7 bearing two top rollers, of which only one is shown in the drawing at 1, is provided with two hollow spaces 19 and 20. Cap 18 fit into the inner threads of said shaft, by means of which the spaces 19 and 20 are sealed at both ends of the shaft. A boring 8 connects space 19 with ring groove 9 of the roller 1, if the latter is in the operational position.

An insert 21 at the middle portion of shaft 7 contains two ducts 22 and 23 in the axial direction as well as four radial borings 30, 31, 32, and 24 the continuations of which are radial borings in shaft 7. Duct 22 interconnects the hollow spaces 19 and 20, and also communicates with the radial boring 24. Duct 23 interconnects the radial borings 30, 31, and 32. The continuations of radial borings 31 and 32 end at the bearing surface of shaft 7. Duct 23 is sealed with respect to the hollow spaces 19 and 20 by means of screws 27 and 28 fitting into the threads at both ends of said duct 23.

Boring 24 can be connected with a source of compressed air passing through duct 22 into space 19, and therefrom through boring 8, groove 9, boring 6, and valve 5 into hollow space 11, thereby inflating roller 1. end motion is,

The air seeping between the bearing surfaces to a space 35 between the shaft end and the inner end wall of the top roller creates a pressure which tries to push the roller 1 to the left, as

viewed in the drawing, since a screw 16 prevents the air fromescaping. Its motion is, however, limited by a ring of the shaft 7, against which the ring groove of said roller is then bearing, simultaneously creating a sealing due to its resiliency which prevents air from escaping out of the system. No binding of the surfaces in frictional contact will occur since the roller consists of a synthetic plastic material, as shown in the drawing, and being known for its good antifriction characteristics.

Boring 30 can be also connected with a source of compressed air (FIGS. 1 and 2) which will pass through duct 23 and boring 31, and will flow along adjacent surfaces of the roller 1 and shaft 7 to the right-hand side. This air current will withdraw and blow off an fl or dirt accumulated at the bearing surfaces, around the sh or the edge of the roller, and will prevent such accumulations.

A cock 26 is arranged outside shaft 7 (FIG. 2). This is connected with ducts 22 and '23 by means of two pipes 25 and 29, respectively, whereby said cock 26 is a simple twoway device. Said ducts 22 and 23 have no direct connection at all between each other.

In order to use the same source of compressed air, cock 26 is connected with it and also with borings 24 and 30. The compressed air is inflating the roller 1 as shown in FIG. I. The

cock 26 has to be turned by in the clockwise direction from that illustrated, in order to perfonn the cleaning of the top roller and the shaft.

FIG. 3 shows how roller 1 can be inflated when removed from the spinning frame. The roller 1 is pressed against the tapered outside surface of an air nozzle 33 by means of a level (not shown) so that the tapered edge 34 of roller 1 and the tapered outer surface of the air nozzle 33 form a sealing. The compressed air is introduced through the duct of the nozzle 33 which inflates roller 1 as described before.

As can be seen from this description the inflation as well as the cleaning of the roller can be performed during the production period of the spinning machine without any interruption or reduction of the production.

I claim:

. l. A top roller for a textile-drafting device, said roller comprising a fixed shaft having first and second axial ducts formed therein, a roller on said shaft and having an interior annular space in fluid communication with one of said ducts, and the other of said axial ducts being in communication with the surface of said roller, and means for causing fluid to be selectively introduced into one of said axial ducts for inflating said roller or blowing dirt from said roller surface.

2. The'roller of claim 1, in which said shaft comprises a hollow outer member, an insert in the hollow interior of said member defining a second space in said shaft in fluid communication with said first space, said first and second axial ducts being formed in said insert, one of said axial ducts being in communication with said second space.

3. The roller of claim 2, in which there are at least two radial ducts in said shaft in fluid communication with the other of said axial ducts.

4. The roller of claim 3, in which there is a third radial duct in said shaft in communication with the other of said axial ducts, whereby compressed air entering said third radial duct passes through the other two of said radial ducts for blowing off dirt from the outer surface of said roller and said shaft.

5. The roller of claim 9, in which an input radial duct is formed in said shaft substantially diametrically opposed to said third radial duct, said input radial duct being in communication with said one of said axial ducts.

6. The top roller of claim 5, in which said fluid introducing means comprises means for supplying compressed air to said third radial duct or said input radial duct.

7. The top roller according to claim 1, wherein an axial bore is formed in said roller having a partly tapered surface at its edge for forming a seal between the roller and an outer tapered surface of an air nozzle to which the roller can be adapted for inflation independently from the inflation by way of the ducts in the shaft.

8. The top roller according to claim 1, further comprising a ring disposed on the shaft, a cooperating circumferential inner groove being provided on an inner bearing surface of the roller arranged close to the inner edge of the axial bore, and forming with the ring a seal during the inflation of the roller. 

1. A top roller for a textile-drafting device, said roller comprising a fixed shaft having first and second axial ducts formed therein, a roller on said shaft and having an interior annular space in fluid communication with one of said ducts, and the other of said axial ducts being in communication with the surface of said roller, and means for causing fluid to be selectively introduced into one of said axial ducts for inflating said roller or blowing dirt from said roller surface.
 2. The roller of claim 1, in which said shaft comprises a hollow outer member, an insert in the hollow interior of said member defining a second space in said shaft in fluid communication with said first space, said first and second axial ducts being formed in said insert, one of said axial ducts being in communication with said second space.
 3. The roller of claim 2, in which there are at least two radial ducts in said shaft in fluid communication with the other of said axial ducts.
 4. The roller of claim 3, in which there is a third radial duct in said shaft in communication with the other of said axial ducts, whereby compressed air entering said third radial duct passes through the other two of said radial ducts for blowing off dirt from the outer surface of said roller and said shaft.
 5. The roller of claim 9, in which an input radial duct is formed in said shaft substantially diametrically opposed to said third radial duct, said input radial duct being in communication with said one of said axial ducts.
 6. The top roller of claim 5, in which said fluid introducing means comprises means for supplying compressed air to said third radial dUct or said input radial duct.
 7. The top roller according to claim 1, wherein an axial bore is formed in said roller having a partly tapered surface at its edge for forming a seal between the roller and an outer tapered surface of an air nozzle to which the roller can be adapted for inflation independently from the inflation by way of the ducts in the shaft.
 8. The top roller according to claim 1, further comprising a ring disposed on the shaft, a cooperating circumferential inner groove being provided on an inner bearing surface of the roller arranged close to the inner edge of the axial bore, and forming with the ring a seal during the inflation of the roller. 